Knowing the Different Types of Cranes

By Sarah Williams

Australia is an ever-growing country, with building construction projects everywhere. You can see several infrastructure investment projects everywhere, thanks to its lower than the typical cost of building infrastructure.

For any Australian building contractor, one of the many challenges you usually come across is finding the right pieces of machinery to help you with your projects. Cranes, for instance, are very critical in the construction industry. However, not all contractors can afford to buy cranes. Hence, opting for crane hire companies can be the best possible solution.

Cranes come in different types. Because of the many choices available, it can be daunting to find out which one mainly does what. Every crane provides a specific function. As a contractor, getting the wrong one can potentially cause budget issues and delays. Thus, it helps to understand the differences between each machine so you can easily find out which one you can hire for your project.

Mobile Cranes

Mobile cranes are cranes that are mounted on tires or crawlers and provide better mobility than any standard crane. You can even see mobile cranes allowed on the freeway because these machines can seamlessly navigate from one job site to the next, plus the fact that you can carry ample amounts of weight, making them the best addition to any project.

Carry Deck Cranes

These are one of the many types of mobile cranes notable for their movability and versatility. These compact, four-wheeled cranes are relatively new crane types. These are easy to set up, and because of its small size, they make perfect options for navigating around open and confined spaces.

Crawler Cranes

Instead of wheels, crawler cranes are track vehicles. They are made on a fitted undercarriage and secured with rubber tracks. Although the crane’s turning capacity is minimal, its tracks allow you to use them on sites with soft grounds. Some of these machines come with a telescopic arm so it can change its size. This will make these cranes adaptable to practically any type of terrain. Crawler cranes are ideal for long-term projects because they are bulky, they need a particular set up, and it is difficult and time-consuming to transport them from one side to the other.

Floating Cranes

Known for their capability to effortlessly work in water, you usually see these machines in sea projects like oil rigs or ports. They are also called crane ships or crane vessels. At present, there are different types of crane vessels like the semi-submersibles or the sheer leg. What makes these floating cranes different from all the other kinds of cranes is that these are used at sea.

Rough Terrain Cranes

True to its name, these cranes carry out operations on rough terrains. These cranes are the same as those crawler cranes. But unlike crawler cranes that use tracks, rough terrain cranes have outfitted undercarriages and four massive rubber tires. You can also equip them with outriggers or telescopic booms to achieve better stability.

Truck-Mounted Cranes

These types of cranes have two parts: the boom (arm) and the carrier (truck). Truck-mounted cranes are easy to take on the road as no transportation equipment is required; neither do they need a unique set up. For stabilization, these cranes have outriggers and counterweights.

These are just some of the many types of cranes you need to know before you decide to contact a crane hire company. Choosing the right crane for your project involves your project site’s size, terrain, the weight of materials, and a lot more. It’s best to identify your project specification so you can quickly identify the type of crane you need for your project.